Houston's small bicycle- sharing system will expand from three stations downtown to two dozen in several neighborhoods under a partnership announced Wednesday by Mayor Annise Parker.

Parker said the $750,000 collaboration with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas will encourage a healthful transportation option and confirm Houston as a bike-friendly city.

"Providing more transit and transportation options has been a priority for me, but bikes have a special significance," Parker said. "Bikes are freedom, bikes are movement, bikes are transportation, bikes get you to and from a job."

Injecting more funds

Currently the B-Cycle program, operated by a nonprofit, offers 18 bicycles at three downtown stations: City Hall, Market Square Park and the George R. Brown Convention Center. Officials planned to have more bikes and stations in place by now, but delays in permitting and finalizing a federal grant limited progress.

Wednesday's partnership pushes those plans over the hurdles they faced. An additional 182 bikes and 21 stations are expected as part of the second phase, scheduled to start in March. Locations have been chosen but will be reviewed further based on details of where electrical and other facilities are located. Sixteen stations are planned for downtown, three each in Midtown and Montrose and two in the Museum District.

"We are excited to see the program grow," said Neil Bremner, owner of the local Bike Barn bicycle shops that maintain the bikes.

The partnership will expedite and expand the second phase, said Laura Spanjian, Houston's sustainability director. The money covers some installation, not covered by the federal grant, operational expenses and planning for a third phase that will bring bikes to the Texas Medical Center, local college campuses and the Heights.

Variety is key

Adding service and stations where people want to go is crucial to developing the system, supporters said. In other cities, like Denver, where bike sharing has taken off, the variety of destinations helps drive use.

Costs range from $5 for a day pass to check out a bike to $50 for an annual membership. The bike is available for 90 minutes free of charge. Beyond 90 minutes, keeping the bike costs $2 for every half hour.

The goal, supporters said, is to develop a system robust enough that riders could check out a bike in downtown and ride it to Midtown where they would check it in and then dine, shop or visit a friend.

When they need to return they could just grab another bike and ride back.

"We know that with more stations and more bikes it will just take off here," Parker said.